In this article we gonna explore the best places to visit in Bihar, So let’s get started.
1. Bodh Gaya
A holy landmark and pilgrimage center, Bodh Gaya is part of the Mahabodhi Temple complex and is located in the Gaya district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is well-known for being the location of the enlightenment (Pali: bodhi) that is attributed to Gautama Buddha, under the tree that has come to be called the Bodhi Tree. Bodh Gayā has been a site of pilgrimage and devotion for both Buddhists and Hindus from ancient times. Sculptures among other archeological discoveries indicate that Buddhists have been using the site since the Mauryan era. Bodh Gayā and the nearby regions were invaded and destroyed in the 12th century CE by Muslim Turk armies, led by Delhi Sultanate’s Qutab al-Din Aibak and Bakhtiyar Khilji.
2. Nalanda
Nalanda, ancient university and Buddhist monastic centre southwest of Bihar Sharif in central Bihar state, northeastern India. Nalanda’s traditional history dates to the time of the Buddha (6th–5th centuries BCE) and Mahavira, the founder of the Jaina religion. According to a later Tibetan source, Nagarjuna (the 2nd–3rd-century CE Buddhist philosopher) began his studies there. Extensive excavations carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India indicate, however, that the foundation of the monasteries belongs to the Gupta period (5th century CE).
The powerful 7th-century ruler of Kanauj (Kannauj), Harshavardhana, is reported to have contributed to them. During his reign the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang stayed at Nalanda for some time and left a clear account of the subjects studied there and of the general features of the community. Yijing, another Chinese pilgrim a generation later, also provided a minute account of the life of the monks. Nalanda continued to flourish as a centre of learning under the Pala dynasty (8th–12th centuries), and it became a centre of religious sculpture in stone and bronze. Nalanda was probably sacked during Muslim raids in Bihar (c. 1200) and never recovered.
3. Tomb of Sher Shah Suri
Sher Shah Suri’s mausoleum is located in Sasaram, Bihar, India. Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Sur Empire, commissioned the tomb for himself. It was completed on August 16, 1545, approximately three months after his death.
It is located on a square plinth in the center of an artificial lake, which is accessible via a causeway. The tomb, formed of sandstone, was once painted in vibrant colors and adorned with glazed tiles. It is a three-story octagonal edifice topped by a massive dome. Chhatris are found on either edge of the second and third levels. The mausoleum is surrounded by a veranda, which has three arched arches on each side.
Arched windows with latticed screens brighten the room. Entrance is available from all sides except the western side, which serves as the qibla wall for prayer. The prayer niche is located in the center of the western wall and is richly embellished with carvings and tilework.
4. Rajgir
Rajgir is a town where the air that surrounds its gorgeous scenery contains traces of spirituality and bright hues of history, with connections to both Buddhism and Jainism.
Rajgir, formerly known as Rajagriha, which means “The City of Kings,” is an ancient city in Bihar’s Nalanda district. As the ancient seat and capital of the Haryanka dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Brihadratha dynasty, and the Mauryan Empire, as well as the home of historical characters such as Buddha, Mahavira, and Bimbisara, the city is significant in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain texts. Rajgir was the initial capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadha, which later became the Mauryan Empire. It is mentioned in India’s famous literary epic, the Mahabharata, by its king Jarasandha. The town’s beginnings is unknown, however ceramics from around 1000 BC have been discovered in the city.
5. Vaishali
Vaishali, Vesali, or Vaiśālī was a city in modern-day Bihar, India, and is now an archeological site. It is part of the Tirhut Division.
It was the capital city of the Vajjika League of Vrijji Mahajanapada, which is regarded as one of the first examples of a republic in the sixth century BCE. Gautama Buddha held his final speech here in 483 BCE, and King Kalasoka convened the Second Buddhist Council in 383 BCE, making it a significant location in both Jain and Buddhist religions. It has one of the best-preserved Ashoka Pillars, which is crowned with a solitary Asiatic lion.
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